I wanted to say thanks to everyone who left me advice and reviews (HereLies, Madam Mikey, M, White Wolf Writers). It was very helpful! :)
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It was evening when Vilkas laid Lily down carefully at his chosen campsite. He set up a roaring fire to keep the chill of the night away and covered her with a fur blanket. Lily was still knocked out, but other than a gash on her temple she seemed uninjured. Vilkas rummaged through their packs and retrieved a jar of Tilma's healing salve. He brushed her tangled brown hair away from her face and carefully cleaned and dressed her wound. He sat back and looked at his handiwork, satisfied that the bandage on her temple would hold. Lily's eyes were closed, her long dark lashes resting like wings upon her pale cheeks. She looked softer in repose with her face bathed in the campfire light. Her plump rosy lips parted in a sigh. In that moment, there was a loveliness to her that Vilkas had never noticed before. Cautiously, he reached out and ran the back of one finger along her cheek. Her skin was as soft as it looked. Vilkas shook his head and smirked at his own foolishness. Ysmir, what's got into me?
With Lily safely resting by the fire, Vilkas went down to a nearby stream to wash up. As he got close to the water, mudcrabs rushed forward to defend their territory, clicking aggressively and brandishing sharp claws. Vilkas growled and smashed the shell of the first creature within reach, sending its friends skittering away in fear. He removed his steel armor and stripped to his bare skin. Sadly, mudcrabs were the only ones to witnesses the magnificent sight of his well muscled nude form bathed in Masser and Secunda's light. He lowered himself into the shallow water, letting out a grateful sigh as the waters flowed over him. It had been a difficult job and it felt good to wash away all the dirt, grime and blood.
Back at camp, Vilkas pulled on a comfortable pair of tundra cotton trousers and sat near the fire. He took out a cloth and carefully started to clean his armor.
The evening sky shone with a million stars. The cool, crisp air was filled with the gentle sounds of the night; the babble of the nearby stream, the swish of grass from a passing fox, the distant hoot of an owl. Vilkas was just appreciating how peaceful it was out here on the plains, when Lily woke from her slumber with a loud shriek.
"Good Gods woman, you want me to lose my hearing!?" Vilkas complained.
Lily looked around in confusion, slowly taking her surroundings. She saw Vilkas sitting across from her by the campfire, glaring at her as he polished one of his pauldrons. The impertinent retort she was about to throw back at him was quickly forgotten as she caught sight of his bare chest and muscular arms in the moonlight.
She pulled her eyes away. "Uhm, sorry about that. I dreamt of fire. When I woke up, I thought I was still burning."
"Well, you're safe now. We're camped just south of the cairn."
"So, what happened? I remember you killing the draugr lord, then I was looking at the word wall…and then…" Lily frowned. The memory seemed to float away like smoke.
"I found you unconscious next to the word wall," Vilkas confirmed. "I think you may have hit your head."
Lily reached up and discovered the bandage wrapped around her temple.
"So, you're telling me that you saved my life by slaying the draugr lord, then you carried me out of the cairn on your back, and bandaged my head…" Lily paused to sniff the air and noticed a cookpot on the fire. "You cooked mudcrab stew for dinner on top of all that?" She laughed, a bright and genuine sound. Her expression softened as she looked at Vilkas. "Thank you," She said with a little smile.
Vilkas nodded to her in acknowledgement. "We got what we came for," he said
Lily's smile faded. "The shard. May I see it?"
Vilkas rummaged in his pack and handed Lily a sharp triangular piece of metal.
Lily took the shard and turned it over in her hand a few times, noting its finely etched surface. One more piece of the puzzle that will lead me back home, she thought grimly.
"There's one thing I don't understand. What was a shard of Wuuthrad doing in a tomb full of draugr? The draugr served the old dragon worshipers, right?" Lily asked.
Vilkas paused from cleaning his armor to regard Lily with surprise. Few warriors cared to know the history behind their missions. Lily's curiosity sparked his own love of the lore.
Vilkas set down his armor and spoke, "Draugr are men and women who were condemned to spend eternity in service to a dragon priest, sustaining their master with their own life force. We're lucky we did not find the dragon priest in the cairn. They are among the most dangerous undead you will ever face in Skyrim. It's likely they did not build Dustman's Cairn themselves, but took it over as it suited them."
"I get it. These dragon priests were lazy. Why spend ages carving a base out of solid rock when someone has already done it."
"Aye. It may have once been the tomb of one of Ysgramor's heirs. Sometime after Wuuthrad was shattered, it was tradition for his decedents to be buried with a piece of the axe."
"Who's King Jafnhar then?"
"King Jafnhar?" Vilkas asked, puzzled.
"Yeah, I read the word wall and it said it was in commemoration of King Jafnhar's child or somesuch."
Vilkas huffed. "That's impossible, the word walls are written in the ancient dragon language. None now live who can read it, except maybe the Greybeards up on High Hrothgar."
"No, it was in plain old Cyrodiilic. I could read it clearly."
"Like I said, I think you bumped your head. Maybe you dreamed of the wall when you were knocked out," Vilkas suggested.
Lily frowned, trying to remember. "You might be right. Well, I didn't conduct myself very heroically, passing out and all. Are you going to fail me in this Testing?"
"I…haven't decided yet," Vilkas answered.
"After all that, you're going to leave me in suspense?" Lily complained.
Vilkas gave her an appraising look. "You held your own and you're a good archer, I will give you that. But I'm not certain you have the right skills for the Companions."
"What do you mean? I've got plenty of skills. I had nearly 10 years of training back at the Thieves Guild," She protested.
Vilkas sighed. "That's what I mean. All this…sneaking around, picking locks…it's not what we do. The Companions are hired for warrior's work: rescues, protecting citizens from monster attacks, retrieving lost family heirlooms. We help others. I don't see how you can aid others, nor bring honor to the Companions with the skills of a thief."
"You think it's not possible for a thief to have honor and help others? What about Gentleman Jim Stacey then?" She countered.
Vilkas looked at her wearily. "Who?"
"Gentleman Jim Stacey, the legendary Redguard thief who used to steal from the corrupt and give to the poor in Morrowind. Never heard of him eh? I thought you had a broader knowledge of lore, Sir."
Vilkas smirked. "I don't believe it. It's probably a tale made up by a guilty thief to make themselves feel better. Can you say that you've ever helped anyone with your skills but yourself?"
No, I can't say that I ever have. For the first time in her petty criminal career, Lily felt a little ashamed. She evaded the awkward subject. "You're really going to fail me in this Testing just because I sneak around and pick locks?"
"That is to be decided when we return," He said coolly.
Shit. That's the end of me then, she thought. "Very well, since my future with the Companions is uncertain, there's one thing I wanted to make clear. Whether I pass this Testing and join you or not, your secret is safe with me. I would never reveal to anyone that you're a…well…you know…" she shifted uncomfortably on her blankets.
"A werewolf." Vilkas finished for her. Lily was surprised to hear a hint of bitterness in his voice. For a moment, she thought she saw a flash of both anger and guilt in his eyes.
"Are all of the Companions werewolves?" Lily blurted in curiosity.
"Look, I don't want to talk about it. When we return you should speak with Kodlak. Let's get some rest before sunrise," Vilkas said tersely. He put his armor to the side and lay down by the fire, his silent muscular back towards Lily.